Judge Blocks Trump Order, Restores Collective Bargaining for VOA Workers

A significant legal ruling today has halted the Trump administration's attempt to remove collective bargaining rights from Voice of America employees.

Federal Judge Blocks Executive Order on VOA Workers

WASHINGTON – In a pivotal decision for federal employees, D.C. federal judge Paul Friedman granted a preliminary injunction against the President, alongside the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America, and USAGM Acting CEO Kari Lake. This injunction was delivered orally in court, effectively stopping the administration's executive order that aimed to revoke collective bargaining rights at USAGM, labeling it unconstitutional and retaliatory against the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

This legal action stemmed from a lawsuit initiated by AFSCME, AFGE, the Voice of America Employees Union, AFSCME Local 1418, and AFGE Local 1812, challenging the executive order issued on August 28. The judge's decision ensures that USAGM employees retain their right to collective bargaining, acknowledging that the attempt to strip these rights was a clear First Amendment violation.

Judge Friedman connected the revoked order to a previous executive order from March that similarly targeted collective bargaining across various federal agencies, criticizing it for favoring "Unions that supported him, they’ll be fine, but other unions, not so much."

Despite these challenges, the unions continued their advocacy through legal proceedings and challenging efforts to erode the autonomy and pro-democracy mission of Voice of America. The judicial observation highlighted that the government's actions were a retaliation against the unions, underlining a pattern of First Amendment retaliation.

Concluding his opinion, Judge Friedman emphasized that preserving these labor rights serves the public interest, particularly since Voice of America is recognized as “a voice of democracy.”

AFSCME President Lee Saunders remarked on the ruling as a significant triumph for VOA and USAGM workers, stating, “This is a major victory for workers at VOA and USAGM against the administration’s efforts to silence their voices in an attempt to punish them. The professionals at these agencies have been beacons of hope against the world’s most oppressive regimes. We'll continue to fight for the collective bargaining rights of our members against an administration determined to strip them away.”

Echoing these sentiments, AFGE National President Everett Kelley added, “The administration’s attacks on Voice of America and USAGM workers were plainly illegal and retaliatory. The Court’s finding that the administration once again violated our members’ constitutional rights, including their First Amendment rights, highlights exactly why unions matter. We’re proud to stand with AFSCME as we continue fighting for collective bargaining and safeguarding the fundamental freedoms all Americans rely on.”